In his 19 seasons as an NFL quarterback, Mark Brunell, now serving as a backup for the New York Jets, is estimated to have earned $50 million over his career. Unfortunately, at 41 and about to retire from football, Brunell is in dire financial straits.

ActionNewsJax.com reports Brunell, once a three-time Pro Bowler with the Jacksonville Jaguars, is broke. The Jacksonville-based media outlet details his road to bankruptcy, which has featured plenty of bumps related to ill-fated investments.

Mark Brunell, now a backup QB for the Jets, has reportedly blown through his NFL earnings. (AP photo)

According to ActionNewsJax.com, Brunell “sunk his fortune” into nine business ventures, including a real estate company and a Whataburger franchise. The latter foray into fast food led to a rapid loss of his entire investment. Through six lawsuits, there are claims of nearly $25 million against Brunell.

The report also shares insight on the plight of Brunell and professional athletes with similar problems in their personal life. To that end, former Packers offensive lineman Ken Ruettgers, a former teammate of Brunell's in Green Bay, who now helps fellow retired players deal with their life after the NFL, offered an alarming statistic.

“It’s something like 78 percent of former NFL players, two years after their last game are either bankrupt, divorced, or unemployed,” Ruettgers told ActionNewsJax.com.